“Oh—how would you know?” Elizabeth snapped. Snatching up the rest of Cutter’s clothing into a wadded bundle, she shoved it heedlessly into the open drawer. “She’s his housekeeper, for mercy’s sake!”
Enjoying her ire, Cutter grinned. “Just do,” he replied matter-of-factly. He rather liked the way her eyes lit up in a pique.
Elizabeth snorted. “You couldn’t possibly after only a few moments!” she countered, tossing a lock of sun-bleached hair over her shoulder.
Weeks on the trail had turned her dishwater blond hair a sun-kissed gold, with the lightest strands framing her face. And her skin reminded him of peaches and cream; despite the time they’d spent in the sun, it seemed only the slightest bit darker. His lips curved roguishly. “Wanna bet?” he asked. His tone was seductive in its silky softness.
Irritably snatching up a pair of Cutter’s socks she’d missed from the bed, Elizabeth threw them, too, into the open drawer, closing it discordantly, wishing that she’d hurled them at Cutter instead. “No, I don’t want to bet!” she retorted, grating her teeth. “And that...” She turned, wagging a finger at him, her eyes narrowing. “That’s another thing! I can’t believe you left me standing outside alone, screaming like a banshee up at an empty window! You don’t just climb into someone’s window and stay, Mr. McKenzie! It just isn’t done!”
Cutter raised a brow. “It isn’t?” he asked with obvious amusement.
“No! It isn’t!”
“In that case—” Cutter lifted his weight from the door abruptly “—I’ll have to remember that next time I climb into someone’s window. Won’t I, Mrs. McKenzie?” He grinned.
Elizabeth took a step backward, but straightened her shoulders, looking as fierce as she was able. “Don’t you dare call me that—and you can quit having your fun at my expense! I know what you’re doing, Mr. McKenzie!”
“You do?”
She held a hand out to ward him away. “Stay back!”
Cutter’s grin deepened.
Elizabeth retreated another step, her back coming flush against the wardrobe. “Cutter,” she warned. He placed one hand above her head, bracing himself. And then, after an interminable moment, he touched her, his fingers gripping her by the waist—so hot where they touched—and her knees went weak.
“Cutter,” she breathed, her legs buckling.
His arm snaked about her waist, catching her, drawing her to him, and her heart skipped a beat. She went limp in his arms as he slowly savored the feel of her, joining their bodies so close, they could have been one. “You’re beautiful,” he said softly.
“Please, don’t... don’t lie to me,” she begged. “I’m not... never have been.”
“Beautiful,” Cutter stressed, cupping her face gently. “Don’t ever let me hear you say otherwise.”
The naked hunger in his ebony black eyes made her feel it was the truth he was speaking. That he meant every word. And her heart soared. Her eyes closed.
“Cutter...”
His fingers wound themselves into her hair, his eyes slitting. “Your hair,” he whispered with so much intensity that it sent a quiver down her spine. Like fire, his lips brushed lightly against her own, a whisper searing her clear to her soul. Then again, the velvety heat of them robbing her will. “And your mouth...” Again, his lips touched her, but this time he nipped her gently. Her lips parted with a moan. “Especially your mouth.” He guided her backward, tilting her head back. Bracing her against the wardrobe, he dipped to kiss the pulsing hollow at the base of her throat, savoring it as though it were the very thing he craved.
But it wasn’t.
And they both knew it.
Elizabeth was burning, too. Impossible to bear. Her entire body ached; her breasts for his touch, her lips for his kiss. His lips pressed against hers, then gently covered her mouth, the slow, drugging kiss leaving her breathless. Without warning, his tongue stabbed deeply, leaving her mouth burning with fire, and her breath left her completely. Heat unfurled deep within her, seeping into every part of her, making her tremble with longing.
Heaven help her, she wanted to.
But she couldn’t.
She shook her head, denying him, denying herself, but couldn’t speak to say the words. It was one thing out there, alone... but here?
The pitter-patter of little feet broke into her consciousness, but before she could recover herself, the door flew open. Shrieking with surprise, Elizabeth shoved at Cutter’s chest, her face flushing guiltily.
“Katie?” Elizabeth gasped, her hand flying through her hair, smoothing it nervously away from her face.
Katie smiled. “I jus’ wanned to show you somethin’,” she whispered loudly, her eyes big and round, as though to emphasize the secrecy of her visit. She came forward slowly. And with her eyes fixed on Elizabeth, she offered her hand, palm-up.
In it, to Elizabeth’s shock, was a small locket she immediately recognized. She fingered it reverently, sinking to her knees to put herself at Katie’s eye level. She lifted it from Katie’s small hand, swallowing the knot that appeared in her throat, and gazed at it dumbly for a long moment. Slowly she opened it to find two small portraits encased within. Katherine... and herself. As she gazed at it, bittersweet memories assailed her. Tearing her gaze away from the locket, she found Katie staring at her expectantly.
